GIVE A MITZVAH, DO A MITZVAH
Harley Schippell shares experiences with dyslexia
Harley Schippell became a bat mitzvah on May 13 at Temple Beth El in Allentown. Harley, twin sister of Samantha Schippell, attends AIM Academy outside Philadelphia, a private college-prep school for children with language-based learning differences. She enjoys art, acting and theater. AIM Academy students thrive in classrooms that offer multisensory and experiential learning. Programs are designed to foster self-esteem and social responsibility. Academic and intellectual
development is further enhanced by extracurricular activities and enrichment in the arts, athletics and community service. The goal is that upon graduation, students are prepared for the challenges, complexities and choices they’ll face in college and beyond. Harley’s mitzvah project is unique. She wrote an essay on her personal experience of what it’s like learning with dyslexia. She was inspired by graphic novels about people who have struggled in some way and worked through it.
Her goal was to do as they do: educate in a way that’s fun and accessible. “Classmates, teachers and even family members sometimes say things that feel so critical without realizing how much it hurts,” she said. “I also hold a lot in and am learning that it helps to talk about it.” Her parents, Ed and Pamela Schippell, said, “We are so proud of all Harley’s accomplishments and how hard she works every day to learn and grow. Her superpowers are kindness and
empathy for others, creativity, and humor.” In addition to her mitzvah project, Harley has made her first adult gift of tzedakah (charity) to the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs. For help developing a mitzvah project, contact Abby Trachtman, project coordinator, at abbyt@jflv.org or call her at the Federation office at 610-821-5500.
Samantha Schippell became a bat mitzvah at Temple Beth El in Allentown on May 13. The seventh-grade Springhouse Middle School student, twin sister of Harley Schippell, loves dancing and playing lacrosse and basketball. When planning her mitzvah project, she thought of the children who don’t have the equipment to play the sports she loves. She found out she could help other kids get what they need simply by asking. She and her parents, Pamela and Ed Schippell, did some research and found Leveling the Playing Field. Leveling the Playing Field was founded in 2013 in
response to the growing inequity between those who can afford to play sports and those who cannot. It turns out that a lot of oftenexpensive sporting equipment used by young kids all the way up to professional sports franchises goes to waste. Max Levitt, founder of LPF, decided to develop what is essentially a food bank for sporting goods. The organization collects equipment and distributes it to youth sports and recreation programs in under-resourced communities. Samantha is collecting new and gently used sporting goods to donate to Leveling the Playing Field.
“I chose this project because playing sports means a lot to me,” she said, “and I want those who aren’t playing sports because they can’t afford equipment to have an opportunity to play and enjoy sports as much as I do.” She has a collection box at Temple Beth El and is seeking equipment for all sports, including soccer, baseball, softball, football, basketball, hockey, field hockey, golf, tennis and lacrosse. You can contact Samantha at sammitzvahproject6@ gmail.com to arrange for a pickup. You can also donate money directly to Leveling the Playing Field by sending a check to Temple Beth El,
Samantha Schippell collects sporting goods
1305 Springhouse Road, Allentown, PA 18104 and marking the envelope “Samantha Schippell Mitzvah Project.” Or you can donate on the LPF website at levelingtheplayingfield. networkforgood.com. Please make donations by the end of June. “We are so proud of Samantha for thinking of others and wanting to make sure anyone who’s interested has the same opportunity to play sports that she has had,” Pamela said. In addition to her mitzvah project, Samantha has made her first adult gift of tzedakah (charity) to the JFLV Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.
610-882-8800 embassybank.com
24 JUNE 2023 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY
